OVERVIEW
Beyond the southern stands of the stadium lies the main center of Nylea's worship in the city. Built in her ancient shrine, formed in a forest clearing, its construction required multiple trips to consult different oracles until the goddess pronounced herself through a sacred white stag with golden antlers sent to the clearing. The stag's antlers were used upon the animal’s death to create a bow to which wonders are attributed, and which is still kept in the temple as its greatest relic.
The temple of Nylea over the years has been modified by the magic of the goddess and her priests. Externally it looks like a magnificent abandoned temple, but perfectly preserved, covered with plants and with the marble of its columns cracked by branches of trees that surround them. The interior is as wild as the exterior, and even hosts a natural fountain and a small pond under the moss and flower-covered image of Nylea. The columns are covered with vegetation and smaller animals inhabit its beams and ceilings. Several trees have replaced the function of the columns at various points. The temple has a multitude of entrances, opened by high hollows between its walls from which natural light streams through. The temple is open to any animal seeking refuge.
The current priest in charge of the temple is Gilertias, an elderly satyr whose age the goddess seems to have decided to extend and who is possibly the oldest person in Meletis. The goddess allows her most faithful to use the wood of the temple trees to carve bows after asking permission from Gilertias and doing the required work as an offering. These bows are highly prized even in the lands of Setessa, but very few deserve to carry one.
Location Description
Outside
As you move beyond the southern stands of the stadium, you find yourselves in the presence of the main center of Nylea worship in the city. The Temple of Nylea Hecebola, nestled in an ancient shrine within a forest clearing, emanates an aura of mystic reverence. The temple, a magnificent structure, appears both grand and untamed. Its external facade resembles an abandoned temple, yet it is perfectly preserved. Covered with lush plants, the marble of its columns is beautifully cracked by the embracing branches of surrounding trees.
The temple's construction, guided by the divine will of Nylea and revealed through a sacred white stag with golden antlers, is a testament to the goddess's influence. The stag's antlers, now transformed into a bow of wonders and kept as the temple's greatest relic, add a sense of sacred history to the site.
Inside
Stepping inside the Temple of Nylea Hecebola, you are immediately enveloped by the wild beauty of its interior, mirroring the untamed exterior. The temple is a living sanctuary, where nature flourishes in harmony with the sacred space. A natural fountain and a small pond lie beneath the moss and flower-draped effigy of Nylea, creating a tranquil and mystical ambiance. Vegetation covers the columns, and smaller animals scurry across beams and ceilings, their presence a reminder of the temple's connection with all living things. Several trees have grown to support the structure, seamlessly blending the built environment with the natural world. The temple's many entrances, high hollows between walls where natural light pours in, welcome not only worshippers but also animals seeking refuge.
Gilertias, the elderly satyr priest whose life Nylea has seemingly extended, oversees this sacred place. The temple's trees are used, with Gilertias's permission, to carve bows for Nylea's most faithful followers. These bows, revered even in the lands of Setessa, symbolize the deep connection between the worshippers and the goddess.
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